As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain - the symbol of the sure covenant of mercy to God's children remembered amidst judgments on the wicked; as in the flood in Noah's days (Revelation 4:3). 'Like hanging out from the throne of the Eternal a flag of peace, assuring all that the purpose of heaven was to preserve rather than to destroy. Even if the divine work should require a deluge of wrath, still the faithfulness of God would only shine forth the more brightly at last to the children of promise, in consequence of the tribulations needed to prepare for the ultimate good' (Fairbairn). (Isaiah 54:8-10.)
I fell upon my face - the right attitude spiritually before we enter on any active work for God (Ezekiel 2:2; Ezekiel 3:23-24; Revelation 1:17). He remains on his face until 'the spirit sets him on his feet.' In this first chapter God gathered into one vision the substance of all that was to occupy the prophetic agency of Ezekiel; as was done afterward in the opening vision of the Revelation to John.
Remarks:
(1) When the Lord purposes to employ any man as His minister in high and arduous functions, His hand is laid on him to strengthen him for the work in prospect, as the Lord did in the case of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:3). The vision vouchsafed to the prophet was well calculated to fill his soul with exalted conceptions of God's consummate wisdom and power, in the workings of His providence, which would comfort himself first, and then qualify him for administering comfort to his fellow-exiles. The whirlwind out of the north, and the fire catching hold of all that surrounded it (Ezekiel 1:4), symbolized the consuming judgment of God about to be inflicted by the Chaldeans. The Son of God, as the Father's minister of judgment, with dazzling brightness enthroned amidst the cherubim (Ezekiel 1:4; Ezekiel 1:26-27), was a sight well calculated to fill the prophet with awe and reverent fear.
(2) Yet at the same time it suggested hope of mercy and expectation of blessing. Though he and his fellow-captive countrymen were now excluded from the temple at Jerusalem, yet God, by this symbolical vision, gives them the gracious assurance that He Himself, who had heretofore sat enthroned between the cherubim there, will be still with His people by the Chebar, and that in the latter days He will again restore the glory of the visible temple to His people. The same vision furnishes comfort to the people of God in all times. The cherubim symbolize the ruling powers through whose ministration God acts in His government of the natural and moral world. All that is eminently excellent in the animal world, including man, the crowning summit of the whole, whose noble ideal is realized in the Divine Son of Man, as well as all the angelic powers that rule under God, are subservient to carrying into effect God's eternal purposes of judgment upon the reprobate, and of mercy and love in the end to the people of God.
With winged speed (Ezekiel 1:6), like the lightning, the ruling ministers of God's will move wheresoever they are sent by Him in the four quarters of the world. Their movements are all sure, without effort, firm, and straightforward. They lose no time by devious turns, but move directly to the end aimed at (Ezekiel 1:9). Active energy, combined with intelligent skill, directed not by their own power, but by that of God, and this hidden from the too curious scrutiny of man, is implied by their "hands of a man under their wings" (Ezekiel 1:8). They make no mistakes, and the steps of their work need not to be retraced. The joining of their wings above (Ezekiel 1:9; Ezekiel 1:11) implies that, however complicated and conflicting the movements of God's providence, as administered by His ministering agents, may seem on earth, if we lift up our eyes to heaven, we shall see that they wonderfully meet and combine in carrying out the one end-the glory of God and the good of His people. However tortuous and confused the ways of God's dealings among men may appear to us, they all tend to the same aim. They move by the secret impulse of His Spirit: their spirit is in perfect accordance with His: and not only do they will what God wills, but they move in immediate obedience to their God-conformed will (Ezekiel 1:12; Ezekiel 1:20). Then, too, the Spirit of God, like the lightning or flashing fire, with never-wearying vigour, pervades their ceaseless movements "up and down," with the fullness of life flowing from God Himself (Ezekiel 1:13-14; Revelation 4:8). With burning zeal and intelligent love they ever serve God-a pattern to us to copy now, and a specimen of what the redeemed elect hereafter shall be.
(3) Connected closely with the four-fold cherubim, though distinct from it, in the vision, was the one compound and four-fold wheel (Ezekiel 1:15), made up of two wheels, the one within the other, crossing one another transversely at right angles, and so forming four semicircles facing the four quarters of the world, and corresponding to the four sides or faces of the cherubim respectively. As the cherubim represent the spiritual agents of God's providential and gracious administration of the government of the world, so the four-fold wheel expresses the actual movements of His providence in the world. The height and circumference of the wheels, so vast that the prophet was afraid to look upon them, represent the height and depth of God's counsels; as to which Paul exclaims, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33.) The similarity of the wheels to one another (Ezekiel 1:16) implies that all God's ways on earth have a mutual harmony and agreement; while the multiplicity of eyes in them expresses the perfection of intelligent perception wherewith the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth (Zechariah 4:10), discern the special circumstances of every case, so that nothing is done by His providence at the prompting of blind instinct.
One and the same spirit was in the cherubim and in the wheels (Ezekiel 1:20-21), just as the same Spirit of God rules and impenetrates the heavenly ministers of God's government, and by them rules and orders all earthly events. The image of the wheel, ever revolving round the axle, and having now one part uppermost, now another, teaches us not to despond in adversity; for in due time, if we wait patiently on the Lord, the revolution of the wheel of His providence will raise those up who are now for a time depressed; while those who are unduly elated by elevation in circumstances know not how soon they may be cast down. As the wheels had four sides looking toward the four quarters of the world, so, look in what direction we may, the wheel of God's providence has a face toward us, so that we can always rest confidently upon His power, wisdom, and love. Wheels are within wheels in His ways, which, though looking to us perplexed, complicated, and unaccountable, are all really, each from a different quarter and by a different method, subserving one grand and final consummation.
`In human acts, though labour'd on with pain, A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain; In God's, one single doth its end produce, Yet serves to second, too, some other use.
Let us, then, not misjudge God's dealings because we do not at once see their scope and purpose; but, as Lord Bacon says, rest in Providence, move in charity, and turn upon the poles of truth.
(4) The firmament above the heads of the cherubim was like crystal, dazzling the spectator by its brightness (Ezekiel 1:22). No dark clouds intervene between God and them: so shall it be hereafter with the redeemed: they shall see the face of God and His unclouded glory and brightness shall rest upon them. (5) The cherubim vail their persons in reverence before God (Ezekiel 1:23); and though the noise of their wings in motion had been like the noise of great waters (Ezekiel 1:24), yet when they heard the voice of the Almighty from above they stood still and let down their wings, that God alone might be heard (Ezekiel 1:25). Deepest reverence becomes us when we are in the presence of God. When He speaks in His holy temple let all the earth keep silence before Him (Habakkuk 2:20).
(6) While the cherubim are movable, the throne of the God in and by whom they move is immovably fixed. With Him is no variableness or shadow of turning. His throne is a throne of judgment and universal government on the one hand, and on the other also a throne of grace and glory. What joy it is to believers to know that a MAN, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, sits exalted on that throne, far above all principalities and powers (Ezekiel 1:26). And though the "fire" of consuming judgment is round about and within it (Ezekiel 1:27), yet the rainbow, the token of God's everlasting covenant with His people, surrounds it (Ezekiel 1:28). As amidst His fiery judgments on Jerusalem He still looked on the bow and remembered His covenant with Israel, and therefore reserved mercy for the elect remnant, so in all ages, amidst His punitive visitations upon the reprobate, He has never lost sight of His covenant of love to His believing people.
(7) Ezekiel fell humbly on his face at the glorious sight. This was His fitting inauguration into his high functions as a prophet. Let us learn that reverence and deep hu mility are the best preparation for hearing the voice of God to good purpose. Then only can we enter upon active service for God in the right spirit, and may confidently look for the divine blessing on our work. Beholding God's glory in the face of the Lord Jesus, let us seek to be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18), and so reflect the rays of that glory in our contacts with our fellow-men!